During early diastole, what is the pressure difference between the atria and ventricles?

During early diastole, the heart is in a phase where the ventricles are relaxed and filling with blood. It is at this point that the atrial pressure is typically higher than the ventricular pressure. This pressure difference allows blood to flow from the atria into the ventricles.

As the ventricles relax, they create a negative pressure relative to the atria, which aids in the easy flow of blood into the ventricles. The atria contract towards the end of diastole, but during early diastole, they are still relatively full from the blood returning from the body (in the right atrium) and the lungs (in the left atrium).

This understanding is critical as it underlines the basic principles of cardiac filling dynamics and hemodynamics, which are essential for comprehending heart function. The relationship between atrial and ventricular pressures during this phase helps in understanding various cardiac conditions that may arise due to dysfunctional filling mechanisms.